Barghouthi: Not even Netanyahu can erase Jerusalem history

Ramallah – Ma'an – Mustafa Barghouthi, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, called the statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Washington's AIPAC conference "lies and fabrications, attempts to falsify Palestinian history."

Speaking out against Netanyahu's statement calling the construction of Israeli homes on occupied Palestinian land "not a settlement," Barghouti said no attempt to "Judaize Jerusalem will delete Palestinian history" from the city.

During his speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, Netanyahu told Jewish lobbyists, that "[t]he connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel cannot be denied. The connection between the Jewish people and Jerusalem cannot be denied."

He continued, saying, "The Jewish people were building Jerusalem 3,000 year ago and the Jewish people are building Jerusalem today. Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is our capital."

The Israeli leader's words, countered Barghouthi, "are a confirmation of his arrogance, he is acting as the leader of a settler government."

"East of Jerusalem was and still is the eternal capital of the Palestinian state. Peace starts from Jerusalem, and if Netanyahu doesn’t recognize Palestinian rights in Jerusalem, he will not find a partner for negotiations and peace will be an illusion."

Clinton to Israel: You must face difficult but necessary choices

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also addressed the AIPAC conference, reaffirming American support for Israel as "rock solid" amidst the Israeli announcement to continue settlement construction despite US objections.

"Both sides must confront the reality that the status quo of the last decade has not produced long-term security or served their interests. Nor has it served the interests of the United States," she said.

"And there is, I think, a belief among many that the status quo can be sustained. But the dynamics of demography, ideology, and technology make this impossible," Clinton added, alluding to the rise of what she described as "violent extremism."

Israel "cannot ignore the long-term population trends that result from the Israeli occupation. As [Israeli] Defense Minister [Ehud] Barak and others have observed, the inexorable mathematics of democracy – of demography are hastening the hour at which Israelis may have to choose between preserving their democracy and staying true to the dream of a Jewish homeland. Given this reality, a two-state solution is the only viable path for Israel to remain both a democracy and a Jewish state," she said.